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Russia’s Central Election Commission chief assaulted in her house outside Moscow

Burglary is the main version for the attack, the source says

Chairwoman of Russia’s Central Election Commission Ella Pamfilova Stoyan Vasev/TASS

Chairwoman of Russia’s Central Election Commission Ella Pamfilova

© Stoyan Vasev/TASS

MOSCOW, September 6. /TASS/. Investigators of the Moscow Region police have opened a criminal case after Chairwoman of Russia’s Central Election Commission Ella Pamfilova was attacked, Interior Ministry’s Spokeswoman Irina Volk told TASS on Friday.

"On September 6 at about 1.30 a.m. Moscow time, police were informed about an attack on the owner of a house located in the urban area of Istra outside Moscow. Having arrived promptly, police officers established that the victim was Ella Pamfilova, chairwoman of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. A masked perpetrator broke through the window into the house patio, used a stun gun on her several times, and then absconded," Volk said.

According to Volk, the detectives opened a criminal investigation in accordance with Article 162 Part 3 of Russia’s Criminal Code (robbery).

"The investigation is underway along with operational activities aimed at identifying, locating and detaining those involved in committing the crime," Volk concluded.

Burglary is now thought to be the main reason behind the attack, a source in law enforcement agencies told TASS. "Burglary is currently thought to be the main version behind the assault of Chairwoman of Russia’s Central Election Commission Ella Pamfilova," the source said.

According to the source, nothing was stolen from Pamfilova’s house, while the burglar was tipped off and did not know who the owner of the house was, preliminary data suggests.

Another version is that the attack was work-related. Hence, the investigation will consider her work on the CEC among other leads, Russia’s Investigative Committee Spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko told TASS on Friday.

"The detectives are thoroughly looking into and working on any possible lead into the crime, including the attack because of her professional activity, and they will also establish the reasons and goals," Petrenko said.

Investigative Committee head Alexander Bastrykin on Friday submitted a move to the prosecutors’ office asking to transfer this criminal case to his committee from the police.

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